This event is being sponsored by National Grid
July 8th, 2017 – Full Lighting
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Sunset: 8:22 p.m.
Lighting time: 8:42 p.m.
The fires will remain lit until 12:30 a.m.
Music Program
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All Full WaterFire installations light up over eighty braziers from Waterplace Park to Memorial/South Main Street Park on the below scheduled evenings. Lighting occurs shortly after sunset and the event continues until half past midnight.
WaterFire Providence welcomes back sponsor National Grid
“National Grid strongly supports WaterFire and all that it means for Providence and Rhode Island,” said Timothy F. Horan, president of National Grid in Rhode Island. “This signature event has become a leading contributor to the vitality of our economy as it continues to gain international recognition while drawing thousands of visitors who might otherwise not have visited the region.”
Before the lighting enjoy Shakespeare en el Verano (Shakespeare in the Summer) on the Basin Stage
Starting at 6:15 p.m. on the Basin Stage in Waterplace Park Trinity Repertory Company, in partnership with Rhode Island Latino Arts (RILA), will be performing a new bilingual English-Spanish adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet by Brown/Trinity Rep MFA student Marcelo Mascaro. Mascaro co-directs the new adaption featuring contemporary Spanish, new music and a new cast with Trinity Rep associate artistic director Tyler Dobrowsky. Romeo and Juliet will tour throughout Providence from July 7th – July 31st, 2017. This performance is free and open to the public.
Visit National Grid’s interactive installation on the Washington Street Bridge.
Take some selfies in National Grid’s photo booth, create your own energy via energy bicycles, relax and charge your electronic devices at a Charging Station in the lounge area, and learn more about National Grid’s work bringing energy to our region. Please visit www.nationalgrid.com and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter for energy-saving ideas for home and business.
The WaterFire Arts Festival Plaza
The WaterFire Arts Festival Plaza, in partnership with Bryce Studio, returns to Washington Street for the 2017 WaterFire Providence season. The Arts Festival Plaza and will be active from 6:00 – 11:30 p.m. This outdoor artisan fair will showcase some of the great artwork created in Rhode Island in mediums such as glass, photography, sculpture, jewelry and more. The WaterFire Arts Festival Plaza will offer visitors the opportunity to purchase artwork by Rhode Island-based artists.
Grab a bite to eat! Visit one of our great food vendors:
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Washington Street
- Sweet Smokin’ Pits
- Saugy’s
- Ray’s Mini Melts
- Dudley’s
- Umelt
- Kettle Korn Express
On the River Walk between College and Washington Streets
- Frenchy’s Popcorn
- The Nutty Bavarian
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College Street
Steeple Street
- Fat Belly’s Irish Pub
Waterplace Park Basin
Various Locations:
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Visit Starry, Starry Night
The Starry, Starry Night Installation will shine brightly in Memorial Park. Join thousands of WaterFire visitors in Memorial Park where the public is encouraged to add their own light to the night. For a small donation to WaterFire, make a wish upon a star or place your very own message and luminaria candle lantern in the park. The park will be aglow with hanging blue stars and a constellation of twinkling luminaria candle lanterns below.
WaterFire’s favorite characters are back!
Fire dancers Andrew Lindsay and Liz Knights will dazzle the crowds during several performances throughout the evening at the confluence, on boats, and on the wall of braziers near Memorial Park.
Mime artist Michael Grando will return again for this event. Be sure to catch Michael, in costume as the Commedia dell’arte character Pierrot, as he cruises the river tossing carnations to visitors along the shore.
Origami Master Andrew Anselmo will delight crowds of all ages near the RISD auditorium.
Charge up with National Grid
Make sure you can capture the magic of WaterFire all evening long by visiting National Grid charging station on the Washington Street Bridge to recharge your smartphone and other mobile devices during the lighting.
Step back through history at the Governor Stephen Hopkins House
Make time to see The Governor Stephen Hopkins House located at 15 Hopkins Street (off Benefit Street). They are open for tours: Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m.to 2:00 p.m. and April through November on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. & until 10:00 p.m., when they fall on a full WaterFire lighting (the last tour begins at 9:30 p.m.).
Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted.
The museum is also open by appointment, for which there may be a modest admission charge. Please email [email protected] to make an appointment.
About the author
I've worked at WaterFire Providence since 2003. For the first 9 years of my career, I worked in the Production Shop learning all of the details that go into the physical production of the event. In 2012 transitioned to the role of managing WaterFire's social media and web presence. I now head up WaterFire Providence's digital projects including, web, social, databases, and our physical IT infrastructure.
I have a committment and will be late. I can be there between 8 and 8:30. Please have Nicole call me, text me or otherwise confirm that she got this. Thanks, Nancy Jordan
I was one of the lighters for this waterfire (as a guest of the Providence Journal) and I am trying to find out if the photographs that were taken are posted somewhere.
There is a photo album on our Flickr page.